Collapsible crate



N. P. KOSTECK.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED Aus.30, 191s. IIENEwED MAY 24,1920.

1,358,562, Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

SHEET l,

2 SHEETS- N. P. KOSTECK.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLlcATmN FILED Aue..a0. 1918. HENEwEn MAY 24. 1920.

1,358,562, Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

SHEET 2.

2 SHEETS- 05% yy JA/ W @511m @EM SH01: 11 m PATENT ori-ics.

NICHOLAS P. KOSTECK, OF PITKIN, COLORADO.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

Application :filed August 3G, 1918, Serial No. 252,090. Renewed May 24, 1920. Serial No. 383,924.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, Nici-rotas P. Koersen, residing at Pitkin7 in the county of Gunnison and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Collapsible Crates, of which the 'following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to a collapsible crate, and one object is to produce a receptacle of the character indicated which shall be especially adapted for use in the display of fruit, vegetables and other food products and which may also be employed for shipping certain articles by parcel post or otherwise.

A further object is to provide a receptacle comprising a bottom member, a plurality of hinged end members, a hinged front member and a member similarly formed constituting the rear wall of the crate, a folding top being hinged to the said rear wall of the crate, and a foldable partition member dividing the crate into a plurality of compartments, this member last named extending preferably midway between the ends of the device.

A still further object is to provide certain novel means whereby the folding` and collapsing elements may engage adjacent elements when the crate is set up7 and certain novel means for edc-acting the hinge connection at various portions of the device.

lilith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction.y combination and arrangement of elements hereinafter described and claimed:

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view ot the collapsed crate.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the collapsed crate.

Fig. 5 is an end view.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section with the central partition member in elevation.

lin carrying out my invention, I employ a bottom member designated 10 and comprising a plurality' of side bars 11 and 12, the latter being connected at points midway between the ends by a transverse bar 13 with which a middle partition wall 14 is connected. Bar 13 passes loosely through end portions 15 of partition 14.

Each side bar 11 and 12 of the bottom is provided with an upstanding member at the respective ends thereof, these elements being preferably formed by deiiecting the bars 11 and 12 from a horizontal to a vertical position. rEhe bottom further includes bars 17 and 18 extending across the ends.

The end Jframes each include vertical. bars 20 and 21 pivotally connected at 22 with the upstanding members previously relerred to and formed on elements 11 and 12. A bar 24 extends transversely of each end iframe at the point of pivotal connection 22 and an upper bar parallel with bar 24 connects the side elements 20 and 21 of the end frames and is designated Q5. These bars 25 form tie rods, the upper bars of the end trames being formed integrally if desired with the side bars 2O and 21. rllhe upper bar is designated 26 and connected therewith is a handle 27. Each end trame is similarly formed.

The iront and rear frame members mounted on the elements 11 and 12 of the bottom each comprise an upper longitudinal bar 3() vertical end bars 31 and 32 and a lower tie rod 33, the latter passing through ears 34 and 35 upon the front bar 12 of the bottom and forming a pivotal connection for the front and rear frames.

The front and rear frames each carry at their upper corners certain devices of hook formation extending laterally and adapted to engage the upper bars 26 of the end trames, the engagement being from the under side of said bars 26. The vertical bars ot the end frames are deflected at 33, permitting the hoolr members 36 to be moved into position without engaging the transverse bars 25 of the end frame.

The top of the crate comprises a plural.- ity of end members, each of which comprises two elements 40 and 41 pivotally connected at 42; a central longitudinal connecting rod 43 passes through the point of pivotal connection and serving in part to eiiect such connection. Each end of the rod 43 is provided with an engaging device 44 of hook formation and adapted to engage the under side of bars 26 of the end frames. The top further includes longitudinal bars 45 and 46, the front bar 46 carrying an apertured member 47 engaged by the locking device mounted on the upper bar 30 of the iront frame member. This locking device may be of anydesired type but is here shown as comprising a thumb screw 45 passing through a nut 48 mounted in a downwardly deflected portion 30. The screw also passes through the apertured desired.

In collapsing the crate the end members are sprung outwardly to a given extent, permitting` the front and rear frames and the top to clear the end frames. The front and rear frames are foldedv toward each other and the top is then folded over the rear frame.` Finally, the end frames are folded toward each other, and the crate assumes its most compact form. It is of course understood that the middle partition'mem-V bei' is the first element collapsed., 1

`What is claimed is:

1.V In a device of the class described, a bottom frame comprising'a plurality of parallel'bars forming longitudinal VVelements of ,the frame, bars connecting theends ofthe longitudinal elements, upstanding devices carried by the said longitudinalelements,

end frames pivotallyl connected `to the upi standing devices, front and rear lframes each comprising vertical end bars and a horizontal upperbar, ears carried `by lthe parallel bars ofthe bottom frame near the ends thereof, a rod connecting the vertical bars ofthe front and rear frames and effecting pivotal connection With the aforesaidears, engaging devices projecting from .theV upper corners of the front and rear frames. and engaging the upper vbars of the end frames from the under side thereof, a middle partition member andfmeans for hinge'dly connecting the latter With the bottoml frame andfor detachably connecting the middle partitionrvvth the front and rear frames, and a collapsible top fra-me hingedlyconnected With the upper portion of the rear frame.

2. In a device of theV class described, a bottom vframe includingupwardly deflected ends, front and rear frames hingedly connected With the bottom frame, end frames hngedly connected with kthe deflected ends of the bottom frame, 'engaging devices formed on the upper corners of the front and rear frames and comprising hook members engaging the` upper elements of the Y end frames onv the under side thereof, atop hingedly connected With the rear-frame and comprising 'end bars formed in a plurality of sections pivotally connected, a central aforesaid pivotal connection, hook members carried bythe ends of the central longitudinal bar and positioned to engage the upper elements of the end frames aiding in' retaining tl'ielatterand in retaining the cover, Y

In testimonywhereof I "affix my si nature.

NICHOLAS P. KOST* CK.

*longitudinalV connecting bar effecting VtheY 

